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Sports Direct Group’s head of elevation, Mike Murray, and Flannels’ head of brand, Carl Tallents, exclusively unveil their UK and international expansion plans for Flannels and explain why Sports Direct is betting big on the high street.

Jigsaw takes over third of Kew 159 stores

A third of Kew 159 stores are set to be taken over by sister womenswear chain Jigsaw, two months after it was revealed that its parent company was abandoning the fascia.

In April it was revealed by Drapers that Robinson Webster Holdings, the parent company behind womenswear chains Jigsaw, Kew 159 and Cabbages and Roses, was to shutter its Kew 159 fascia less than a year after it was given a more trend-led revamp.

Now it has been confirmed that of Kew 159’s portfolio of 22 stores, seven have been or are due to be converted to Jigsaw stores while the remaining 15 locations will be sold.

All of the retailer’s concessions in John Lewis department stores will also either be converted to Jigsaw or sold back to John Lewis.

The seven standalone stores which have been converted to Jigsaw include Leamington Spa, Canterbury, Windsor, Bluewater, Reigate, Walton and Chiswick.

Robinson Webster Holdings, the parent company of womenswear retailers Jigsaw and Kew, said pre-tax losses nearly doubled last year as a result of currency fluctuations, deeper discounting and disposal of excess stock during the recession.

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